Doctor, my wife thinks she’s a screen door.
“Well, take her to a psychiatrist”
What? And let the flies in?

Your work and that of Jean Shepard truly shaped (or twisted) my outlook, and that (with apologies to Robert Frost) has made all the difference.
Condolences to your family. Shared sympathies to all the other fans. Rest in pies indeed.

]]>By: steve rathehttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81567
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:38:01 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81567Soupy Says: If you have trouble making both ends meet — try making one vegetable.
]]>By: R. B. Bernsteinhttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81565
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:59:07 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81565Soupy Sales was a genius and one of my first heroes. I watched his show religiously, and I loved his sense of humor and his willingness to be absolutely nuts on live television. When I learned that he had passed, I was saddened, and not just because another part of my childhood that I treasured was gone — I was saddened because the world really needs its true comic geniuses, its funny people who are not afraid to look ridiculous if it can make people laugh.

I was there, sitting on the rug in my parents’ living room, on New Year’s Day 1965 when Soupy did the shtik about having us sneak into our parents’ wallets and pocketbooks and collect the green pieces of paper with presidents on them and mail them all to him at WNEW-TV and he would send us a postcard from Puerto Rico. I knew it was a joke, and I laughed like a loon. It’s good to know that this really happened and that it wasn’t one of those accursed urban legends.

In 1982, I was a 26-year-old lawyer at a small midtown firm, and I had just got on the elevator and there, standing at the back of the elevator, was Soupy Sales himself. I was shy about bothering someone like him, and I wasn’t sure how he (at the age of 56) would react to a 20-something lawyer in a three-piece suit telling him, “When I was a kid you were my hero.” Now that I read these posts here, and they’re all wonderful, I wish I had said something to him.

We’ll all miss you, Soupy, and your amazing collection of characters, and those jokes that still work and never will go stale. Heaven bless you and may your memory always be a blessing to all of us who remember you.

]]>By: Suzannehttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81563
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:17:18 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81563Soupy Sales was the brightest light of my childhood. I had been a shy kid, but the fun and laughter he brought forth (he related to kids as no one else could) took me out of myself as I converted others into becoming Soupy fans. I remember collecting the bubble gum cards and fan magazines and whatever else I could find. I had a button that said “Soupy Sales Society” which I wore proudly, and I was also thrilled that we shared the same initials. Though not otherwise a TV watcher/couch potato before or since, when Soupy’s show was on the air, I simply HAD to see it, even if it meant pounding on strangers’ doors like “Rainman” seeking Judge Wapner. Years later (late 70’s), I had moved to FL but my parents remained in NJ, and my Dad met Soupy in a stationery store. Soupy approached him with two Christmas cards and politely inquired which one he preferred, as he was choosing some to send to his Gentile friends. They shared a brief courteous exchange; but had it been Mom instead, she’d have bombarded Soupy with stories about how her daughter was his biggest fan, and sought an autograph from him for me. There’s never been anyone else like Soupy Sales; RIP and God bless…
]]>By: Conniehttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81561
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:44:26 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81561Thanks for all the wonderful laughs and great memories.
We’ll miss you.
]]>By: Andy Padianhttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81559
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:49:59 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81559-Soupy, ya gotta help me, my wife, she thinks she’s a chicken
-Well why don’t you take her to a psychiatrist?
-Have you seen the price of eggs lately?

-Soupy, ya gotta help me, my wife, she thinks she’s a piano
-Well why don’t you take her to a psychiatrist
-Ya ever tried to move a piano?

-Soupy, ya gotta help me, my wife, she thinks she’s an elevator
-Well why don’t you take her to a psychiatrist?
-She doesn’t stop on that floor!

As great as Soupy was, and how much he shaped many of our lives, I ran into him on the street in 1979 in NYC. Although I don’t make a practice of speaking to “famous” people, as they too deserve their privacy, I had to tell Soupy how much he meant to me as a kid, and growing up, how he was my hero. He was genuine and polite, and thanked me sincerely. A classier act than he was a comedy act. And he was on the Ed Sullivan Show directly before the Beatles last appearance on the show, doing “The Mouse”. That shows where he was in the national spotlight thos days.

When I complained to my friend Charlie the other day that now that Soupy was gone, I would have to grow up, he said, “Soupy would be angry with you if you grew up!” And I felt much better amidst the sadness.

]]>By: Cindyhttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81557
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:17:45 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81557While living on Long Island, I never missed his show. I thought he was the most adorable & funny man ever! His humor was simple, clean, and just so funny. They’ll never be another like him. I’m so sorry he’s gone, but hopefully he had a wonderful life, full of fun.
]]>By: John Sederhttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81555
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:49:05 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81555In the winter of 64-65 at MacArthur HS in Levittown, every day at basketball practice, our first order of business was to discuss what Soupy did on his show the evening before. I believe he aired at 5 or 5:30, so we had time to catch him after practice.
He didn’t improve my game but he sure made me laugh.
John
]]>By: Connie Colvinhttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81553
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:55:20 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81553I too, am so sorry to hear this, although it wasn’t a surprise to me, as I had seen him at Comic book Conventions, and it was so sad, because he was in terrible condition and it seemed to me they were exploiting him for money. I did meet him when he wasn’t in too good a shape, but he was kind anyway. Got a shaky autograph on a photo of his.
But in his heyday, he was a legend, and really incredibly popular, a great comic and guy, and there are DVD’s of some of his shows out there on Amazon, my boyfriend got them.
So true, there is no one like him and so many who we have lost
like Sandy Becker, my first crush, Sonny Fox, others like Officer Joe Bolton. All legends, but Soupy was the brightest star of all and worthy of love and light,, we will never see any one like him again, a truly unique talent,, and boy, could he take a pie!! My condolances to all who mourn him and we all will always,, God bless you Soupy, and maybe you got a pie up there! He and the Mouse will never be forgotten,, rest in peace our funny friend.
]]>By: Martha Uniackhttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81551
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:15:21 +0000http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/the-morning-feed-140/#comment-81551I remember “Lunch with Soupy” as a kid in NY and later “The Soupy Sales Show” as a teenager in Florida. He was big with my classmates in the Sixties; we all watched him. “Don’t kiss” was repeated throughout my entire high school years.
Another Soup close to the edge joke was, “How do you tell the difference between a snowman and a snowwoman?” “Snowballs!”
Thanks for all the memories and laughter, Soupy.
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